A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Haddon family of England.
Reg. 6368 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, a man's leg couped at the thigh az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Haddon Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Haddon arms are recorded
The Haddon arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Haddon arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Haddon Family in England
The surname Haddon is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locational name for people who lived near a "heath-covered hill." The name is derived from the Old English words *hæth*, meaning heather or heath, and *dun*, meaning a hill or down. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Haddon family were active participants in the civic and social life of this northern hub during a time of significant religious and political transition in England. As the family settled in York, they became part of the local fabric, likely engaging in the trades and mercantile activities that defined the city’s economy during the reign of King James I. This early documentation suggests that the Haddons were well-integrated into the urban community, contributing to the long history of families who helped shape the character of northern English towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Had-dun
Old English for heath or heather and a hill or down.
This name
HaddonRefers to a person who lived on a hill covered in heather.
also spelled
Hadden
Hadin
Related arms
Haddenvariant spelling
Hadenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
legStrength and swiftness
legStrength and swiftness
